51210 Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway

Wensleydale Railway

Location History

Wensleydale Railway Nov 04-Present

Current Location

Wensleydale Railway

Current Status

Under Restoration

Visited Railways

Doncaster Roberts Road (Tyre Turning) Aug 14

Current Livery

BR Green (undercoat)

TRA Designation

4

Partner Vehicle(s)

Owner

Wensleydale Railway PLC

Website

None

Record Last Updated

1 May 2021

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
Preserved as a complete set 101678 with 50746, the vehicle was introduced into passenger service quickly at Wensleydale and was later formed into a hybrid 3-car using Class 117 59509. However due to maintenance sets were noted as often being reformed.

Extensive use of 51210 as vacuum braked hauled stock for steam locomotives was also made.

In 2006, 51210 was repainted into a non standard blue & cream, retaining its set number on the cab end.

In 2011, the driver's side of 51210 was repainted into BR Blue, with the other side following suit a year later.

In 2012, 51210's partner was withdrawn from traffic awaiting overhaul. 51210 continued in service however, now partnered with Class 117 51400 as a spare set for the railway's Class 110 set which was returned to front line service. After the 110 departed 51210 was handling most services.

By 2014, the vehicle had been removed from service for repairs. In August, 51210 was sighted at Doncaster Roberts Road, visiting for wheel tyre turning.

51210 was released back into regular traffic for the 2015 season, working as a 3-car set with Class117's 59509 & 51400. However it back out of traffic for bodywork repairs less than 12 months later.

These were progressed on an ad-hoc basis until 2019 when 51210 was selected above a series of other DMU vehicles on the railway that had fallen out of traffic as a project to push forwards. It was moved from outside in the yard into the shed where progress could quicken. All of the bodyside windows were removed and an outside contractor was brought in to prepare the bodysides and repaint the vehicle into BR green. By the Autumn the vehicle was in undercoat and volunteers had also undertaken some interior work including water ingress repairs and replacement of the ceiling and lighting in the brakevan area.

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 work had to stop at all heritage railways. Later, the railway received some grant funding to overhaul their Mark 2 carriages, so it is not currently known if 51210's overhaul is continuing or whether it has been halted to allow the grant funded work to progress.

Future Plans
To complete the overhaul and then return it to service as part of the railway's main first generation DMU set. The railway have indicated that they want to have a stronger collections policy which entails the departure of several DMU's. However 51210 has been listed as one of the vehicles that the railway wishes to retain and focus on keeping in good servicable condition.

51210 looking good in the shed at Leeming Bar undergoing the most thorough exterior repairs of any DMU vehicle in the Wensleydale's history, 6/10/19. Chris Moxon

51210 looking good in the shed at Leeming Bar undergoing the most thorough exterior repairs of any DMU vehicle in the Wensleydale's history, 6/10/19. Chris Moxon

Stabled in the yard behind a Class 20 at Leeming Bar, 4/7/15. Richard Thornton

After spending most of 2014 out of service for repairs, 51210 is seen at Leeming Bar operating services again, 30/12/14. Brian Battersby

51210/59509/51400 stabled at Leeming Bar, 1/1/13. Martin Clarke

E51210 & 51400 in service at Leeming Bar, 8/11/12. Barry Wetherell

E51210 alongside 51353 at Leeming Bar, 18/10/12. Barry Wetherell

E51210 alongside spares donor 51247 at Leeming Bar, 18/10/12. Barry Wetherell

51210 rests between runs at Redmire, 14/6/11. Dan Froggatt

51210 in service at Leyburn, 26/2/11. Dan Froggatt

51210 on a service train at Bedale, 15/1/11. Dan Froggatt

51210 arrives into Leyburn, 6/11/10. Dan Froggatt

51210 in service at Leeming Bar, 24/10/10. ARDcoasters.com

51210 in service on the Wensleydale Railway, 24/10/10. ARDcoasters.com

51210 out of service having some mechanical work undertake in the yard at Leeming Bar. On the right is one of the vacuum braked Mk1 coaches that it is planned will replace the current practice of using the DMUs as steam hauled stock during the summer season, 21/8/10.Chris Moxon

Rear view of 51210 out of service having some mechanical work undertake in the yard at Leeming Bar, 21/8/10. Chris Moxon

51210 in service at Leyburn, 12/9/09. Dan Froggatt

51210 stabled at Leeming Bar, 28/10/08. John Carter

51210/59509/50746 in service at Redmire, 18/9/08. John Carter

A similar view to the one below just under a week later, with a nice sprinkling of snow. 23/2/05. Mark Grimes

Class 101 DMBS 51210 seen at Redmire on the Wensleydale Railway, 17/2/05. James Addison

The new ceiling fitted in 51210 during overhaul work at Leeming Bar, 6/10/19. Chris Moxon